Orange Regional’s Bariatric Support Group will meet immediately following the seminar. This support group is for both pre- and post-op weight loss surgical patients and is open to the general public. The topic that will be discussed at the support group will be: Psychology – learn not to sabotage your weight-loss, how to avoid bad habits and fear of change.

Orange Regional Medical Center is designated by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence® (BSCOE). This designation recognized Orange Regional’s surgeons and facilities as demonstrating an unparalleled commitment and ability to consistently deliver the highest level of bariatric surgical care possible.

For more information, or to register for both the seminar and the support group, please call the Orange Regional Health Connection at 1-888-321-ORMC (6762) or visit www.ormc.org/bariatrics.

Orange Regional Medical Center is a member of the Greater Hudson Valley Health System.

Orange Regional Medical Center Leader Elected to National Organization Post

November 19, 2013

Middletown, NY- Orange Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce that Frank Salvatore, Director of Respiratory Services, Sleep Medicine, and the Wound Healing Center was installed as the 2014 President-elect of the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) on November 17, 2013 at its Annual Business Meeting in Anaheim California.

With more than 50,000 members nationwide, the AARC is the leading national and international professional association for respiratory care. The organization is the only professional society for respiratory therapists who are committed to improving job performance and broadening the scope of knowledge essential to success.

“I am honored to be selected for this position with an organization that has meant so much to my professional development,” says Frank Salvatore. “I am fully committed in carrying out its mission and values to the Organization’s current and future members.”

Orange Regional’s Vice President of Oncology and Outpatient Operations, Sandra Iberger states, “Frank’s appointment to this role is a significant personal and professional accomplishment and he represents the caliber of leadership throughout Orange Regional.”

Mr. Salvatore is a Fellow of the AARC and has been a member for over 25 years. Throughout his tenure he has served as President of the Connecticut Society for Respiratory Care (a chartered affiliate of the AARC) and has served on the AARC Board as a Director and recently as its Secretary/Treasurer. Mr. Salvatore earned his Bachelor’s degree in Respiratory Therapy from the University of Hartford and received a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. He is a Registered Respiratory Therapist by the National Board for Respiratory Care and is an instructor of the American Heart Association’s Basic Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support classes.

Orange Regional Medical Center is a member of the Greater Hudson Valley Health System.

Orange Regional Medical Center Offers Free Thyroid Screenings

November 18, 2013

Middletown, NY- Orange Regional Medical Center will offer free thyroid cancer screenings during the week of December 9 at the Orange Regional Medical Pavilion, 75 Crystal Run Road, Middletown. Participants of the screening must be over 18 years of age. Registration is required. To schedule your screening, please call The Orange Regional Health Connection at 1-888-321-ORMC (6762) by December 2, 2013. Appointments are limited and will be made on a first come, first serve basis.

According to the American Cancer Society, there are approximately 60,220 new cases of thyroid cancer this year, occurring three times more often in women than men. Thyroid cancer is commonly diagnosed at a younger age than most other adult cancers. Nearly two out of three cases are found in people younger than 55 years of age.

Orange Regional Medical Center is a member of the Greater Hudson Valley Health System.

Orange Regional Medical Center Presents Art Exhibit

November 18, 2013

Middletown, NY- Orange Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce the exhibition, Enlightened Views, which showcases the work of two accomplished Orange County artists, Gayle Clark Fedigan and Robert Trondsen. The exhibit will open with a reception on Friday, November 22, 2013 from 4:00 to 6:00pm in The Gallery at Orange Regional Medical Center located at 707 East Main Street, Middletown on the ground floor adjacent to the conference center. The exhibit will remain on display until January 17, 2014.

Gayle Clark Fedigan of Newburgh and Robert Trondsen of Goshen create contemporary art in the traditional genres of landscape and still life painting. The works of award-winning artist, Gayle Clark Fedigan, are included in collections throughout the United States and abroad. She teaches pastel painting at Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh and at the Burren School of Art in Lisdoonvarna, Ireland. Robert Trondsen’s began his career as a still life painter. His current works include luminous landscapes in the tradition of the Hudson Valley School.

Orange Regional exhibits both emerging and mid-career contemporary and professional artists from the Hudson Valley, with a special focus on healing art.

Middletown, NY- On November 5, 2013, New York State Assemblywoman, Aileen Gunther, joined nurses at Orange Regional Medical Center for the education on the use of safe patient handling equipment. Earlier this year, as a result of Assemblywoman Gunther’s efforts, the Safe Patient Handling Act was approved. The legislation calls for healthcare facilities to establish Safe Patient Handling committees which would protect patients, healthcare workers and, in the long term, reduce costs for healthcare facilities. Safe patient handling includes the use of assistive devices to properly and safely transfer patients without injury to the patient or the healthcare worker.

Orange Regional Medical Center Offers Free Mammograms

November 13, 2013

Middletown, NY- Orange Regional Medical Center will offer free mammograms on Saturday, December 7, 2013 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Ray W. Moody, M.D. Breast Center located at the Orange Regional Medical Pavilion, 75 Crystal Run Road in Middletown. Appointments are limited and must be made by Wednesday, December 4. Pre-registration is required.

The event is open to women without insurance who are currently not experiencing breast problems, while still meeting the following criteria. Participants must be over 40 years of age and have not had a mammogram within a year’s time. Women who have had a mammogram within a year’s time and are currently experiencing breast problems may still meet the requirements for participation. They are encouraged to call.

During the hour-long appointment, patients will receive a clinical breast exam and mammography, breast health education and self-breast exam training. The screenings will be led Howard M. Karpoff, MD, FACS, Surgical Oncologist and Chairman of the Department of Surgery.

According to the American Cancer Society, about one in eight women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime and about 232,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in 2013.

For more information and to register, please call the Orange Regional Health Connection at 1-888-321-ORMC (6762).

Orange Regional Medical Center is a member of the Greater Hudson Valley Health System.

The Ray W. Moody, M.D. Breast CenterThe Ray W. Moody, M.D. Breast Center is designed with the convenience of patients in mind. Located at the Orange Regional Medical Center Pavilion, 75 Crystal Run Road in Middletown, the Center provides a comprehensive breast care program with state-of-the-art diagnostic technology and services, together with clinicians who are experts in their field. The Ray W. Moody, M.D. Breast Center was designated by the American College of Radiology (ACR) as Breast Imaging Center of Excellence and is fully accredited in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy. Additionally, the Ray W. Moody, M.D. Breast Center has been granted a prestigious three-year, full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons. As a National Quality Measures for Breast Centers Program (NQMBC) Certified Participant, the Ray W. Moody M.D. Breast Center is currently the only certified participant in Orange County and only one of four in New York State. This distinguished honor represents a commitment to provide the highest quality breast healthcare to patients in the community.

The ANCC is an organization that promotes excellence in nursing and healthcare globally through credentialing programs. These credentialing programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas which enable nurses to demonstrate their specialty expertise and validate their knowledge to employers and patients. The Organization recruits qualified nurses to serve as item writers for professional certification examinations across many nursing specialties.

Achieving certification validates nurses’ knowledge and skills, improves quality and safety and gives patients a benchmark to measure the level of care they can expect to receive.

“Anita’s appointment as a test writer for such an esteemed organization is a testament of the quality of the nursing staff at Orange Regional,” says Vice President of Patient Care Services & CNO, Joanne Ritter-Teitel, PhD, RN, CEA-BC.

Ms. Adler earned her Applied Sciences degree in Nursing from Rockland Community College. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from CUNY’s College of Staten Island as well as a Master’s degree in Nurse-Midwifery from Stony Brook University. Ms. Adler is a Certified Nurse Midwife and holds certifications in ANCC Informatics Nursing and EpicCare Inpatient Clinical Documentation.

To learn more about Orange Regional Medical Center, visit www.ormc.org.

Orange Regional Medical Center is a member of the Greater Hudson Valley Health System.

Orange Regional Medical Center Offers Robotic Surgery

November 7, 2013

Middletown, NY-Orange Regional Medical Center recently provided an opportunity for visitors and staff to ‘test drive’ a simulated version of their robotic surgery equipment. The da Vinci Si HD Surgical System is advanced technology used for a minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery. Robotic surgery is an alternative to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy. With da Vinci, surgeons are provided with the precision, dexterity and control of traditional open surgery, while only requiring, in most cases a 1-2 centimeter incision. The surgical system consists of an ergonomically designed surgeon’s console, four interactive robotic arms and a high-performance vision system. The surgeon is able to view highly magnified 3-D images of the body’s interior. Robotic-assisted surgery offers several benefits for patients, including: reduced trauma to the body, shorter recovery time, less change of infection and less postoperative pain.

Orange Regional Medical Center is a member of the Greater Hudson Valley Health System.

Greater Hudson Valley Health System Leadership Participates in Healthcare Leaders of New York Program

November 5, 2013

Middletown, NY- Greater Hudson Valley Health System’s Vice President & General Counsel, Joe Anesi, served as the moderator for the recent Healthcare Leaders of New York seminar titled ‘Ethical Challenges in Healthcare Leadership’. Marianne Walker, Greater Hudson Valley Health System’s Associate General Counsel and Corporate Director of Risk Management, was a panelist for the session. The session focused on the ethical challenges that arise in all aspects of healthcare and service, from the bedside to the boardroom. They were joined by other healthcare representatives.

Mr. Anesi oversees the office of General Counsel for the Greater Hudson Valley Health System (GHVHS), comprised of Catskill Regional Medical Center and Orange Regional Medical Center, a central resource for all legal services and exclusive contact for outside counsel retention and management. He is also responsible for all physician, managed care and business contracting, defense of all litigation, providing legal support to all members of the System and advising System Chief Executive Officers and Board of Directors on strategy and governance. Mr. Anesi has spent more than 25 years practicing law with public and private firms and not-for-profit corporations, including Oxford Health Plans and UnitedHealthcare. His background includes corporate, regulatory, litigation and healthcare law.

Ms. Walker oversees the Risk Management department for the System and provides legal services and support. She is responsible for managing, monitoring, and supervising outside counsel for all professional and general liability claims, oversees the hospital insurance portfolios, and provides legal services and support to all members of the System. Ms. Walker also provides legal guidance to the Ethics Committee and Institutional Review Board, and to physicians and nurses on advance directives and patient rights. Ms. Walker spent more than 23 years practicing law with public and private firms and not-for-profit corporations. Her background includes regulatory, litigation and healthcare law.

For more information about services provided at Catskill Regional Medical Center and Orange Regional Medical Center visit www.crmcny.org or www.ormc.org.

Orange Regional Medical Center Recipient of National Research Corporation Path to Excellence Award

November 1, 2013

Middletown, NY- Orange Regional Medical Center was recently recognized by the National Research Corporation (NRC) with their 2013 Path to Excellence Award for ‘most improved hospital with 300 beds or more’ at their 19th Annual International Patient-Centered Care Symposium in Baltimore, Maryland. Orange Regional was one of two hospitals selected nationally for its commitment to improving the patient experience. The NRC implements surveys and performs analyses that help healthcare providers to measure and improve quality and services that offer a greater understanding of patients’ experiences, preferences, risks and behaviors.

The award is based on voluntary patient responses to the Hospital Care Quality Information from the Consumer Perspective Survey provided to patients after discharge. Orange Regional patients rated the hospital very high in their overall patient experience.

“This recognition reflects the amount of work our staff has invested in improving patient care and ensuring an excellent experience for each patient we care for,” says Orange Regional’s Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, Joanne Ritter-Teitel, PhD, RN, CEA-BC. “Thanks to that dedication, Orange Regional has continued to see our patient satisfaction scores rise. I want to thank and congratulate our staff for their efforts reflected in this honor.”